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Wicked Garden Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard (sunburst)
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
VHT Classic power amp with Demeter TGP-3 preamp (studio rig, stereo into two 4x12 cabs)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Core' (1992). Dean DeLeo states in Guitar World interview that the main guitar on the record was his '78 sunburst Les Paul, and his main amp rig was a VHT power amp with a Demeter preamp. No evidence of pedal use for the riff section; effects are likely from amp or studio. No evidence of live/touring rig for this recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb2
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- thick and crunchy
- tight and percussive
- full-bodied midrange
- slightly saturated
- clear note definition
- open and dynamic
- classic 90s alternative rock
- articulate chord voicings
- punchy low end
- minimal ambience
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit amp knob settings found in sources; estimated based on typical VHT/Demeter settings for 90s alternative rock and the album's tone.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; no chorus, delay, or modulation audible in the main riff.
- Guitar and amp confirmed by Dean DeLeo interview; pickup choice inferred from tone and genre.
- Settings are for studio recording, not live.
- If more specific pedal or effect info becomes available, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Dean DeLeo used a Marshall JMP-1 preamp and Mesa/Marshall power amps for 'Wicked Garden,' favoring a thick, crunchy hard rock tone with forward mids and tight low end. The riff is saturated but not overly high gain, with balanced EQ and minimal reverb, matching early 90s alt-rock production.